Spinners pull off unlikely win

The Mashonaland bowlers managed to defend a total of only 138 on a rapidly deteriorating pitch today as Hampshire fell only 17 runs short.

The Mashonaland pitch had clearly been prepared to suit the spinners slightly more than it had in the past, and it was for this reason that captain Saqlain Mushtaq elected to bat after he won the toss. Hampshire paceman Shane Bond got the visitors off to a commanding start, dismissing both openers with only 8 runs on the board. Shane Bond dismissed both openers, but only bowled 3 overs as Mashonaland were bundled out cheaply

Quentin Oulton and Quinn Roll both scored at more than a run a ball, but after a 36 run stand, Oulton found himself well short of his crease thanks to a direct hit from the covers. Despite their precarious position of 3/44, Roll and Travis both scored at better than a run a ball in a rapid 42 run partnership until Hamps spinner Jowell induced an edge behind from Travis, while Aldridge had Roll out the next over for 37 off only 32 balls. The remaining Mashonaland batsman tried to slow the game down and attempted to bat out the overs, with Gibbs scoring at what was almost a 50% strike rate, while keeper Zaman could only manage 6 off 24, eventually being bowled by Jowell. Save for Ian Bradshaw (10), the tail offered little support to Gibbs (23 off 43), and in the end Hampshire left the field a happy side after dismissing the home team for only 138.

The Hampshire openers, Shetty and Chopra, got their team off to a steady start with a solid 51 run partnership which was to be the highest of the game. It was the spinner Ben Joshi who got the breakthrough, with Shetty prodding an easy catch back to the bowler for 23. Joshi struck again less than 30 runs later, trapping an impatient Inzamam-ul-Haq in front, leaving Hamsphire 2 down with only 60 runs left to get. Inzamam was clearly upset with his decision as the Hampshire middle order struggled

14 runs later Joshi took his third for the innings, with Pollard holing out to Roll on the long on boundary, leaving the score on 3/93. This quickly became 5/93, with Saqlain Mushtaq dismissing Graham while Ian Bradshaw had Chopra out for a well played 54, easily the highest score of the game. Mushtaq continued to bowl his spinners as they were clearly gaining the most assistance from the pitch, and it was parttimer Quentin Oulton who took the next wicket, Crawley, for 8 runs, and now the long tail of the Hampshire batting line up was well and truly exposed. Shane Bond tried to keep his head, but he ran out of partners after Jowell was dismissed, with the last 3 wickets falling for no runs. Hampshire had been bowled out for 121, with Joshi and Oulton both taking 3 wickets in front a delirious home crowd.The Mashonaland crowd became more vocal as the home team neared victory

After the match, Mashonaland manager Andy Cameron was clearly proud of his team's efforts.
"The team really played well today. Defending such a low score was never going to be easy, but the spinners really turned it on for us today, taking 7 of the 10 Hampshire wickets. Our batting could still do with some improvement, but there's no shame in making only 138 on a pitch like this."
When asked about the state of the pitch, Cameron was quick to defend his groundsman.
"We had specifically asked for a pitch that would better suit the spinners, as we have three to Hamsphire's one. I think that, given the result today, the groundsman's done his job well."

Only a bunch of convicts having been beaten 3-0 and gone 9 tests without a win and won just 1 in 11 against England could go into the home series saying they will win. England will win in Australia again this winter as they are a better side which they have shown this summer. 3-0 doesn't lie girls.

Yorkshire win in high octane chase
After an ineffective 50 overs in the field, yielding just one wicket, Yorkshire were set an imposing total of 323 by the Kent batsmen.
Fortunately for the tourists, the pitch was made for batting and opening batsman W Beasley found form when he crashed 135 runs off just 89 balls which saw him earn the player of the week award.

Yorkshire chased the total down in just 43 overs to grab their second OD win of the season.

Tasmania complete double thumping of Lancashire

Two good all round performances from Tasmania this weekend saw two comfortable victories over an under-par Lancashire side.

Bowling first, Tasmania's First XI bowled well, keeping things tight. Aronstam was Lancashire's top scorer with 96, and he was supported by Midlane's 64. It was a solid total from the English outfit, but they would have liked to have got a lot more.

The total of 216 proved light work for Tasmania's batsmen. Openers Saleem Elahi and Kevin Bulman put on 154 for the first wicket, before Ziggy Siggins held the thinnest of edges from Bulman for 63. With 63 more needed, Vikram Chandrasekh and Elahi ticked them off easily, with Elahi scoring his second century of the season to earn the Man of the Match award.

Victory came even easier for the Second XI. They bowled Lancashire's reserves out in just 28 overs, for 134. Hettiarachchi was the main threat, he took 5-32. There was no major scorers for Lancashire, Munir top scored with 34. The target took 21 overs to chase down. Gurusinha and Rickman both hit rapid half-centuries, and while Gurusinha fell late on, the remaining runs were knocked off with ease.

It was a low scoring match at the Gabba. As the Bulls rampaged through the SA batting order and left them for dead.

Queensland won the toss and elected to bat. The two openers Bundela and Tennision storde out into the middle a la the opening sequence of hit hindi motion picture 'Lagaan'. First touching the boundary rope, and their heads, and looking up to the sky. However, in the opening moments of the match, it looked Captain Kadir Ali had chosen wrongly as SA quick T Binny rolled over Tennison and Owen in succesive balls. With Queensland 2-16, vice captain Bundela looked a bit peturbed, and when Niazi came to the middle. He wasted no time in telling him of the severity of the situation. And so it started again, but this time Queensland gradually got the upper hand 115-run stand for the 3rd wicket with Bundela being picked up by Axelby. however, van Wyk came in, biffed a good 34 in 43 balls, and then got out to Stratton. Niazi then oblingingly gave his wicket to I Mooney, and the rest of the abtting collapsed for 222 runs. A defendable target, but still on a double nelson.

The bowlers came out looking charged up to try defend the meagre total with Captain Ali and his stirke partner Tully to open the innings. He struck with his very first ball, removing YA Singh, and telling SA that Queensland meant Business. Tully, economical as ever, was a foil to the explosive Ali at the other end, as he picked up another in that over, that of Rangnekar and added two more scalps before his spell came to a finish. P Mooney came on and immeadiately added to the carnage picking up Van Jaarseveld. Wascoroni's subtle smirk at the start of his spell was chilling to see. And di he deliver, in his second over. he took three wickets in 4 balls dismissing Collyer, Stratton and Binny. I Mooney couldnt take the pressure and promptly ran himself out. With Mooney ending the innings by taking
Axelby for a duck.

South Australia all out for 61. The smile on Queensland manager Gaurav Nayak's face could not have been any broader.

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Originally Posted by cricket player

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